Re: NACO strengthens its AIDS control programme

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Glad to learn that " The joint director, information education and communication

(IEC), union health ministry, Dr Sadhna Rout, in a communication to the project

directors(PDs) of all the State Aids Control Societies, has asked them to review

the activities of MSJE funded NGOs functioning under their respective

jurisdiction and consider utilising their services in HIV and Aids control

programme " .

This idea was proposed in one of the articles that appeared in the

journal 'Social Defence', published by the Ministry of Social Justice and

Empowerment, Govt. of India in 1994. Though it took a decade to materialize, it

is not late.

The reference of the article is cited below

" Manickam, L. S. S. (1994). Integration of HIV / AIDS Preventive Messages into

the Existing De addiction/ Counselling Networks, Social Defence, 35, 8-24 "

(Published by MSJE, please back channel for reprints).

Over the past five years CAPS (Centre for Applied Psychological Studies,

Thiruvananthapuram) made several attempts to conduct sexual health counseling

training programs for those counselors working in deaddicction and counseling

centers in Kerala. But neither the authorities nor the funding agencies were

'convinced'.

Based on our 7 years experience in conducting counseling training programs for

those who are working in sexual health projects and prospective counselors

(students who are undergoing training in psychology and social work), we feel

that we need to identify the groups to be trained in preventing and supporting.

We need to look at our own realities, potential and develop strategies than

looking for directives from abroad. Though late it is high time that we train

and equip the available manpower to prevent HIV and to support the persons

(including the family and neighborhood) who are affected and " excluded " .

We also urge the concerned officials in the ministry to train the " counselors

working in family counseling centers " , under the same ministry. Our experience

in training the counselors working in family counseling centers in Kerala was

eye opening. The counselors who did not think of the possibilities of

integrating the preventive and supportive counseling strategies into their day

to day working became aware of the need and learned to make use of their

potential. We could initiate the program in Kerala in 1999, because of the

dynamic leadership of Dr. ph Chandy, then training officer of the State

Management Agency, Kerala Aids Control Society. The 5 day residential program

was based on the module developed by CAPS.

Even within in India, I urge that each state needs to identify other groups that

could be included in the preventive work rather than blind replication of

strategies that were found useful in another cultural context since it may be

neither cost effective nor useful.

Sam

L.Sam S. Manickam, Ph.D.

Director & Chief Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Centre for Applied Psychological Studies Thirupuram, 695 133

Thiruvananthapuram , India (H) 91-471-2260148, (W) 91-471-2430029.

E-mail: sammanickam@...